The OLS^® program originated in 2001 at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington. This program has provided an accredited Associate Degree in Occupational and Life Skills for adults with cognitive disabilities. OLS^® at Bellevue College is the originator and model for the LSC-Tomball, OLS^® degree. The OLS^® Program is a cohort model, which means that a group of students progress collectively through the courses. The program consists of 60 credit hours delivered over 8 semesters to cohorts of 12 students . 

OLS^® student success comes from a ‘scaffold learning' approach to education, in which the curriculum builds and overlaps, class by class and year by year, to reinforce critical information, ideas and outcomes.  The curriculum includes course work in the supporting occupational, sciences, math and general education areas.  Students will learn to self-advocate for disability resources and obtain a working knowledge of which resources they will require for success in the workplace.

Students create a career pathway throughout the program that is specific to their self-identified skills, strengths, and passions. An internship of 200+ hours related to that career is completed during their fourth year. Students of the Occupational and Life Skills program will interact with supervisors, co-workers, human resource professionals and administrative staffs to ensure the attainment and application of the necessary soft skills employers' desire